Bidspirit auction | WW2 Rare Variety Escape Belgium

WW2 Rare Variety Escape Belgium cover signed escaper Bryn Morgan 460 sqn 1944. His story starts with the night of 3rd May 1944 when, aged 19, he was the rear gunner of a Lancaster bomber of 460 Squadron based at Binbrook, which was despatched with others to bomb a Panzer training camp at Mailly-le-Camp near Châlons-sur-Marne. Approaching the target the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft gunfire, the fuselage becoming immediately engulfed in flames. Being in the tail he just had time to escape the inferno and jump for his life before the aircraft blew apart. Having landed safely by parachute he made his way across country until he came to a farmhouse to which he turned for help. By a stroke of good fortune the door was opened by a man who proved to be of some importance in the local Resistance - the Maquis, who, recognising Bryan for what he was, took him in. After a day or two he was taken to a series of locations where the Maquis were active and where shelter was found for him in the homes of ordinary but exceedingly brave people who, of course, faced the gravest of penalties should they be caught sheltering an airman. This went on for nearly 4 months, towards the end of which Bryan became very ill and had to be nursed by the family he was with. However, by then General Patton's US Army had advanced to the vicinity of Châlons. The Maquis established contact with the leading troops and Bryan was carried through the front line on a stretcher to a US Field Hospital, and thence back to England. FREE AT LAST! As a postscript, only 3 of Bryan's crew of 7 survived. Bomber Command lost 45 aircraft that night. Bryan never forgot the kindness he received from the people who sheltered him, for the great care taken of him when he was very ill, and the courage of such people faced with great dangers. He also had the highest regard for the men and women of the Maquis for their part in helping him and for their spirit and bravado in harassing the enemy as General Patton's front line advanced. Throughout the war, an Intelligence Organisation named MI9 endeavoured to keep track of the men after being shot down. Where possible they would endeavour to channel such people down certain well defined escape lines, notably across France and over the Pyrenees into Spain, thence on to Gibraltar and home. Two such were the Pat O'Leary line and the Comète Line, both based in Brussels, but for Bryan, by August 1944 both these lines had been closed. At the end of the war MI9's records listed over 2,800 RAF men who were successful in returning to the UK. RAFES SC40 variety cover. 5 Sep 89 BFPS 2209 49th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Royal Air Forces Escaping Society RAF FDC. Tribute Resistance Organizations of Belgium 1940 to 1945. Comete cachet on the front Flown in Lancaster PA 474 Battle of Britain Memorial flight during The Red Arrows 25th Anniversary Air Display at RAF Scampton. Let us never forget those who helped us in our hour of need. Backstamps The Red Arrows and 15 Sep 1989 Abingdon. Good condition Est.